Subtitled 'Inside and outside the Poole Anti - Tank Island'
Published privately by the author, 56 pages. A4 size Booklet (N7318)
Poole was an important Anti Tank Island, and this booklet records the setting up of that defence system, as well as recording what remains of those defence structures today. It thus provides a fascinating insight into the organisation and operation of a small part of Britain's defences during the Second World War, and is illustrated throughout with lots of colour and black and white photographs, diagrams and maps..
From the introduction: The defences for Poole in World War 2 were based on a range of systems which included many anti tank fortifications, AA gun protection, pillboxes, situated around the perimeter of an area designated as Poole Anti-tank Island. (Appendix 2 shows the record on the Defence of Britain Database website). The boundary of this area stretched from Hospital Island (now Baiter), enclosing Poole Town, Quay, Hamworthy, Rockley, Upton, Pony drive, Creekmoor (approximately were Cabot lane is now), past Darby's corner and then north to enclose Canford Heath and then returning by crossing the Old Wareham road, then the junction of Ringwood road and Constitution hill, past and enclosing the Municipal Buildings, and thus to the narrow road bridge at Whitecliff and back to Baiter. The main defences were those that were set up to protect the port and town itself with it's various wartime factories, the quay and wharfs, ship repair areas and harbour. Sections include:
Introduction
Description of Defences
Anti - Tank Island
Gun Emplacements
Pillboxes - Outside the Anti-tank Island
Dragons Teeth - Outside the Anti-tank Island
Air raid Shelters
Home Guard
Other Military and Civilian posts
Other Defences
Defences outside the Poole Anti-tank Island
Conclusion
Appendix 1 Details of remaining Poole Defence Structures
Appendix 2 Poole Anti Tank listing on the Defence of Britain Database web site
Appendix 3 Map showing Sectors, Areas and defences
Appendix 4 Map showing Support Posts
Appendix 5 List of Support Posts
Appendix 6 Map showing Gun Emplacement Sites
Appendix 7 AA Defence and Gun Site list
Appendix 8 Letter requesting Air raid Shelter
Appendix 9 Warden's Post list
Appendix 10 Anti-tank Obstacles list
Appendix 11 Maps of Defence Structures
Condition of the booklet is generally very good. The covers are clean and bright, the staple spine is intact, and all pages are clean, intact, unblemished and tightly bound.